It's Not the Triumph But the Struggle

For the first time ever, the Olympics come to the Asian mainland for better or worse. Like pretty much every Olympics recently, the lead up was mired in questions on how the would come up thanks to construction and pollution questions. Then there was the added tension of political protest following the Olympics torch wherever it went. Politics aside (besides of course the Obama/Paria Hilton ad that ran) this should be the most contested medal count race since the Soviet Union desolved. Here aresome thoughts of the opening cerimonies that featured 15,000 performers and cost 300 million dollars.

- The Olympics just are not the Olympics without Bob Costas. I do not think I can remember on without him.

- I was surprised to hear that George Bush is the first sitting president to go to a non-American hosted Olympics. Considering most are lame-ducks by the time the Summer Olympics roll around that someone would like the vacation. Leave to Bush who took more vacation time in his first year than most had in their whole term to do so.

- Odd that the national anthem of a Communist country is called March of the Volunteers.

- And like many Olympics before it, the Opening Ceremonies is full with stuff that despite looking cool, I have no clue what they are trying to get to get across and that is even after the commentators explained everything. That whole painting scroll thing is just the most bizarre thing I have ever seen.


- And I am corrected already. After those flowing boxes stop and all the people popped out is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen.

- The Parade of Athletes is at the same time the best and worst part of the Olympics. It is excruciatingly long, but thanks to the length Bob Costas starts to go off script and says some inane things. But what was with the bagpipes through the parade?

- Another part of the Parade is the native costumes with African nation always being the best best. The Americans as usual are lane. This year created by Ralph Lauren complete with ascots and Berets.

- The whole footprint thing is pretty cool.

- Wait, there is no more Zaire? When did that happen?

- Okay, the torch lighting was the most bizarre of them all. Consider my mind blown.

- After all that I flipped throughall the NBC networks and no games yet even though it was noon over there.